@thepinkmonkey further, in most cases the IRA distribution is all taxes, while selling after tax assets is only 15% on the gain - not the whole thing.
Let's say you distribute $20,000 from the IRA - your tax bracket is 22%. or $4400 in tax.
the alternative is selling $20,000 of securities and let's further assume the cost basis is $8,000. So the capital gains tax is on $12,000 or $1800. in tax,
